Historic Milestone: Celebrate 100 Years of First Assamese Gramophone Record on Sept 27 in Guwahati
Historic Milestone: Century of First Assamese Gramophone Record
Guwahati – This month signifies a pivotal moment in Assamese music history, celebrating a hundred years since Prafulla Chandra Borooah’s first gramophone record. At just 24, Prafulla recorded four moving songs for the prestigious HMV (His Master’s Voice) in September 1924. Despite numerous obstacles, his endeavor opened the doors for Assamese music to reach an international platform.
The vision of global recognition for Assamese music originally came from Prafulla’s father, the esteemed musician Lakshmiram Borooah, in 1914. However, his untimely death left this dream unfulfilled. Prafulla’s collaboration with Jyoti Prasad Agarwala at Tezpur’s historic Baan Theatre in the 1920s, after his release from jail for participating in the freedom movement, reignited his commitment to fulfill his father’s dream.
In 1924, Prafulla traveled to Calcutta to record his music. He worked as a mechanical apprentice at the Eastern Bengal Railways factory with a modest salary of Rs 30 per month. Passing by the HMV factory daily, he was constantly reminded of his mission. A determined approach to the factory head finally earned him an audition at HMV’s rehearsal room on 106 Upper Chitpur Road.
At the audition, Prafulla’s renditions of “asoma nirupama janani aie” in Assamese and “arnai shokol rokome kangal korecho garbo korite chur” in Bengali won over the selectors. Soon, he received approval to record four Assamese songs: “kiyonu pahora asomiya hera sirokal asila swadhin,” “phulo phulile jonaiye hahile,” “hriday bidari uthey soto bedonarey,” and “asoma nirupama janani aie.” This opportunity turned his dream into reality, and he further recorded two more records in 1928 and 1930.
To commemorate this historic milestone, Prafulla’s family and Assamese music enthusiasts will celebrate at Guwahati’s Lakshmiram Borooah Sadan on September 27.
This occasion not only marks a century of Prafulla’s groundbreaking work but also highlights the enduring legacy and cultural pride of Assamese music.
(Professional tone retained for journalistic consistency.)
Original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/1st-assamese-gramophone-record-turns-100-event-to-commemorate-milestone-on-sept-27/articleshow/113613015.cms
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